Caleb's mother absolutely refused to let Pearce berate her son.
Tossing familial politeness out the window, she let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "That's rich coming from you, Pearce. If you actually respected your elders, you wouldn't have thrown those suicidal tantrums in front of your father..."
Just to marry some homewrecker.
"At least my son cares about his grandfather's health and protects his cousin, Cassandra."
"Meanwhile, as her father and uncle, you've done absolutely nothing but try to throw your weight around. What kind of elder are you?"
Stripped of all dignity by his sister-in-law, Pearce's face flushed a violent shade of purple.
Before Pearce could explode, Latham stepped in to scold his wife. "That's enough!"
"Pearce, don't take it to heart. You know how she is she just loves calling out injustice and stating the obvious facts."
"I know the truth hurts, but isn't that exactly what you did?"
Pearce stared at his older brother, completely dumbfounded. He thought Latham was about to defend him!
He was utterly speechless. Latham, did you even hear the words coming out of your own mouth?
Caleb's mother had to bite her lip to keep from laughing out loud at her husband's deadpan delivery.
Where did he even learn to be this brutally sarcastic?
Their father was usually such a stern, serious man.
Pearce was practically vibrating with rage. "Latham, you are crossing a serious line."
Ever since he married Winona, his standing in this household had plummeted to rock bottom.
"I am genuinely trying to look out for Dad. That Claire girl is way too young; there's no way she has any real medical expertise!"
Latham glared at him with icy contempt. "Claire was personally recommended by Dane. Are you insinuating that Dane wants to harm our father?"
"Or are you saying Caleb is working with him, and my entire branch of the family is plotting against the old man? Let me guess, you and your wife are the only perfect little saints in this house?"
Absolutely flawless and innocent!
Both Pearce and Winona shrank back like terrified quails under Latham's wrath.
As for their son, Corbin Cole, the teenager remained completely silent, treating the entire screaming match like background noise.
In reality, Corbin had a surprisingly good relationship with his older sister.
Cassandra might have been a hardcore academic, but she always looked out for
him.
Even though his mother co
whispered poison in his ear, telling
him to view Cassandra
as a threat,
Corbin genuinely loved his sister.
But thanks to his parents' relentless scheming, he realized the older he got, the
more distance grew between him and Cassandra.
More accurately, Cassandra was pulling away from him.
There were moments when Corbin fiercely despised being born into this branch of the family.
He often wished he had been born into his uncle Latham's family instead.
Just look at how fiercely Caleb protected his sister!
"Latham, you're taking this too far!"
"Insult me all you want, but leave
Winona out of this She only meant
well. Pearce was heartbroken
seeing his wife look so fragile.
Ever since she married him, she had endured endless suffering in this house.
Right on cue, Winona gently squeezed her husband's hand.
She looked up at Latham with tear-filled, victimized eyes. "Latham, I know you've never thought I was good enough for this family. You can
verbally abuse me all you wan
Pearce is your own flesh and blood. How can you speak to him that way?"
The two of them were putting on an award-worthy performance.
Latham felt entirely repulsed by the sight of them.
"Enough. Save the dramatic act for someone who cares. Get the hell out of my sight
and go back to your own house!"
Pearce and Winona froze, never expecting Latham to flat-out evict them on a holiday.
"What gives you the right to kick us out?"
Pearce was defiant.
Just because Latham was born a few years earlier?
Did that give him the right to act like a dictator?
"I don't need a right. I said get the hell out, so get out!"
Latham was out of patience.
He was half-tempted to just banish Pearce from the family entirely.
Caleb's mother didn't say a single word to defend the couple.
Their behavior was utterly disgraceful.
Did they seriously think someone with Dane's power and status would blindly recommend a fraud to treat their father?